Services/Chimney Sweeping Services

Chimney Sweeping Services

Annual chimney sweeping and inspection across Cape Town. Soot and creosote removal, bird nest clearing, spark arrestor checks and a written condition report.

Completed Sentinel Ottawa Compact fireplace installation in Noordhoek

Our Chimney Sweeping Services Services

Annual Chimney Sweep

Completed Sentinel Ottawa Compact fireplace installation in NoordhoekFireplace installers fitting a Sentinel Ottawa Compact in NoordhoekFire Flames installation process on site in Noordhoek
  • Full-length rotary sweeping
  • Vacuum extraction, no mess
  • Soot and creosote removal
  • Firebox and grate cleared
  • Written condition report
  • Booked before winter
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Blockages and Nests

Built-in braai construction in progress in Cape TownFreestanding fireplace and flue installation, Cape Town projectFinished fireplace installation with hearth and flue, Cape Town
  • Bird nest removal
  • Debris and rubble clearing
  • Blocked cowl clearing
  • Camera inspection where needed
  • Spark arrestor fitment
  • Draw tested after clearing
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Inspection and Safety

Fireplace installation in Cape Town by Fire Flames InstallersCompleted Sentinel Ottawa Compact fireplace installation in NoordhoekFireplace installers fitting a Sentinel Ottawa Compact in Noordhoek
  • Flue condition assessment
  • Rope seal and glass check
  • Baffle and firebrick check
  • Roof flashing inspection
  • Report for your insurer
  • Relining advice where required
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BOOK BEFORE WINTER

When was your chimney last swept?

If the answer is more than a year, book now rather than on the first cold evening. Creosote build-up is the most common cause of chimney fires, and spring nesting blocks more flues than anything else.

  • Vacuum extraction keeps the room clean
  • Written condition report included
  • Guesthouses quoted per property
Annualsweep keeps insurance valid
Reportwritten, on every visit
No messvacuum extraction used
Same dayquotes on most bookings

Why an Annual Sweep Matters

Creosote is the tar that condenses inside a flue when wood burns cooler than it should, and it is flammable. A season's build-up is the single most common cause of chimney fires, and a chimney fire is exactly the sort of claim an insurer will scrutinise.

A sweep is not only about safety. A clean flue draws properly, which means the fire lights easily, burns hotter, uses less wood and stops blackening the glass. Most Cape Town homes need one sweep a year, before winter. Homes that burn a lot of wood, or wood that is not fully seasoned, are better served twice.

Sentinel Ottawa Compact fireplace installed in a Cape Town living room

Chimney Sweeping Services Prices (2026)

Modern wood-burning fireplace installed in a South African home

Honest working ranges from recent jobs. Every project is different, so we quote the exact figure before anything starts.

What the Service Includes

  1. Sheeting and protection. The hearth and surrounding floor are covered before anything starts, and we sweep with vacuum extraction so the room stays clean.
  2. Sweeping. Rotary brushing of the full flue length, removing soot and creosote from the liner or masonry.
  3. Firebox service. Baffles, firebricks, grate and ash pan checked and cleared.
  4. Seals and glass. Door and glass rope seals inspected, since a failed seal is the most common cause of poor performance.
  5. Cowl and terminal. Spark arrestor and cowl checked for blockage, bird nests and corrosion.
  6. Condition report. A written report on the flue, the unit and anything that needs attention before next season.
Modern wood-burning fireplace installed in a South African home
OUR WORK

Recent Fireplace Installations

Real installations from recent Cape Town jobs, photographed on site.

Completed Sentinel Ottawa Compact fireplace installation in Noordhoek
Completed Sentinel Ottawa Compact fireplace installation in Noordhoek
Fireplace installers fitting a Sentinel Ottawa Compact in Noordhoek
Fireplace installers fitting a Sentinel Ottawa Compact in Noordhoek
Fire Flames installation process on site in Noordhoek
Fire Flames installation process on site in Noordhoek
Built-in braai construction in progress in Cape Town
Built-in braai construction in progress in Cape Town
Freestanding fireplace and flue installation, Cape Town project
Freestanding fireplace and flue installation, Cape Town project
Finished fireplace installation with hearth and flue, Cape Town
Finished fireplace installation with hearth and flue, Cape Town
See more of our work

Ready for a warm, dry home this winter?

Tell us the room size and we will shortlist the right unit with an installed price.

Signs You Need a Sweep Now

Fire Flames team installing a fireplace flue on site in Cape Town

Smoke entering the room when you light the fire. Glass blackening within an hour. A fire that will not get going without the door ajar. A tarry smell in the room on damp days. Visible debris or nesting material falling into the firebox.

Birds nest in unused flues every spring, and an unswept chimney after a summer of disuse is the most common reason a fireplace will not draw on the first cold evening of the year.

Chimney Sweeping Services FAQs

How often should a chimney be swept?

Once a year for most homes, before winter. If you burn a lot of wood, or wood that is not fully seasoned, twice a year is safer because creosote builds up faster at lower burn temperatures.

Does sweeping make a mess in the house?

No. We sheet the hearth and surrounding floor and sweep with vacuum extraction, so the soot goes into the machine rather than into the room.

Do I get proof for my insurer?

Yes. Every sweep includes a written condition report covering the flue, the unit, the seals and the cowl. Insurers routinely ask for it after a chimney fire.

My fireplace will not draw on the first cold night. Why?

Usually a summer of disuse plus spring nesting. Birds nest in unused flues every year, and an unswept chimney holds a season of creosote. Both restrict the draw.

Do you sweep gas fireplaces?

Gas units do not build creosote, but the flue and terminal still need inspection for blockage and corrosion, and the appliance itself should be serviced. We check both as part of a gas service.

What's included

Full-length rotary sweeping
Vacuum extraction, no mess
Bird nest removal
Debris and rubble clearing
Flue condition assessment
Rope seal and glass check
Fire Flames braai and pizza oven installation
Ready when you are

Let's get your project moving

Tell Fire Flames about your space and the work you have in mind. Share your suburb and photographs so we can discuss the next step and the scope of your quote.